Academia is not the only option

If becoming an academic isn't quite the right career for you, or you want a fall-back plan, here are some alternatives to consider:

What attracted you to an academic career? If it was:

Research - consider research roles in science and industry (eg research jobs in the science sector), in business (think tanks, consultancies, marketing research) or the public or not-for-profit sector (local or regional government research roles, research officer roles in public bodies, charities and NGOs).

Education - consider school or Further Education teaching or other specialist educational roles (eg Educational psychologist, special educational needs coordinator) or teaching in non-school settings such as prisons.

The university environment - consider working in a university in a non-academic role. Universities employ many people who are not academics, from finance managers to research or student support officers.

The Prospects website has a free on-line careers guidance package called Prospects Planner, based around graduate level types of work. This may suggest other alternatives which you had not considered.

If you want to discuss alternative career options, you could talk to a careers consultant.